Challenge

Nilton Santos
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Tomas Illescas started the match with the kick off. After some careless play in the Botafogo MZRJ defense, Tomas Illescas kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of José Vítor Netto. The Botafogo MZRJ fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that José Vítor Netto should have stopped the shot. José Vítor Netto made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tomas Illescas in the 8th minute of play. Patricio Costa charged in rather forcefully in the 9th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Patricio Costa the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 9th minute, Patricio Costa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gilmar Couto, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gilmar Couto in the 12th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 13th minute, Serginho Azevedo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 14 minutes play. Patricio Costa hit a great ball. In the 17th match minute, Botafogo MZRJ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Léo Baptista to maneuver through the defense. Venezuela's defense didn't have a chance, in the 21st minute, when Gilmar Couto scored to the left of an out of position Jonathan Ferrant, making the score, 1-1. Gilmar Couto received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 26th minute. Jonathan Ferrant tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 28 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Jailson Capixaba came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A throw-in in the 30th minute of the game was made by Léo Baptista with Silas Lara as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. In the 31st match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Camilo Gaos to maneuver through the defense. 34 minutes into the game, Gilmar Couto cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-1. Jonathan Ferrant was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. With a little luck, Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant got control of the ball when Gilmar Couto tried to sneak it across the goal line. José Vítor Netto showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Patricio Costa, who was totally free with the ball in the 41st minute. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Gilmar Couto made a kick off. When the match had gone on for 54 minutes, Tomas Illescas took a quick shot and it went in 2-2 without a chance for José Vítor Netto to make any attempt to save it. 60 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Gilmar Couto came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jailson Capixaba fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Ferrant having to interfere. Jailson Capixaba's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Jonathan Ferrant read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 67th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Venezuela's zone, Jailson Capixaba stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jonathan Ferrant came out of the goal and Jailson Capixaba tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Gilmar Couto blasted a shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Jonathan Ferrant having to make a save. Botafogo MZRJ's Antônio Lopez was substituted for Jailson Capixaba. A collision led to Botafogo MZRJ getting a freekick after 83 minutes play. Gilmar Couto hit a great ball. 86 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Gilmar Couto came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Léo Baptista in the 91st minute of play. In the 92nd minute, Gilmar Couto ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Jonathan Ferrant was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-2. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gilmar Couto in the 95th minute of play. There was no doubt that Botafogo MZRJ were the better team. Botafogo MZRJ's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.